FETAL ADRENAL TRANSPLANTS RESPOND TO ACTH AND PREVENT ADDISONIAN CRISIS IN ADRENALECTOMIZED RATS

The present study, investigates whether fetal adrenal transplants into the omentum of adrenalectomized rats will be integrated into the reci pient's endocrine system to provide competent adrenocortical function. The results demonstrate that fetal adrenals graft with a rich vascula r supply, mature histologically, and produce increasing levels of cort icosterone. When bilateral adrenalectomy is performed in the recipient , survival is prolonged and addisonian crisis can be prevented. Moreov er, adrenocorticotrophic hormone levels decrease with increasing level s of corticosterone, indicating that the fetal grafts are integrated i nto the physiological pituitary-adrenocortical feedback system.